Clock already ticking for Pack prospects

Ryan Jensen remembered vividly the night before his pro day at Colorado State University-Pueblo.

Sleep was optional.

And if you know Big Red, sleep is never optional.

“I was nervous and excited,” Jensen said. “I had some other private workouts and I knew what to expect, but there was a lot of pride knowing there was going to be a pro day on our campus.”

The school had never had one — a day where the football program invited NFL scouts to campus to officially work out prospects — and the day was basically to showcase Jensen.

The 6-foot-4, 315-pound offensive lineman from Fort Morgan is a giant, baby-faced ginger with an attitude. And he was CSU-Pueblo’s first legitimate pro prospect in more than 30 years.

Of course, the school didn’t have football for 24 of those years, but Jensen was a special case nonetheless. He flourished in the trenches and NFL scouts began to take notice.

Scouts will go anywhere to unearth talent.

Even Pueblo.

“I had heard all the talk about playing at the next level when I was at CSU-Pueblo and I knew I was getting some looks,” Jensen said. “I was happy for our school and our team that (scouts) thought enough about me that they would come to Pueblo.”

The ThunderWolves, reborn in 2008, became an overnight sensation. They climbed the charts and became part of the Division II powerhouse conversation — because of players like Jensen.

He impressed enough scouts that he was on almost every team’s big board. He slipped in the draft, into the sixth of a seven-round draft. The then-Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens then scooped up Jensen.

They believed in Jensen enough to sign him to a four-year contract and keep him on the active roster this past season despite a broken foot.

He didn’t play at all, though he learned much about life in the NFL. He is in Baltimore waiting for the Ravens’ organized team activities (OTAs) in April.

“It’s a job, first and foremost,” he said. “It took a lot of work to get here and it will take more to stay.”

On Monday, another group of hopefuls will showcase their talents at the Neta & Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl. Defensive end Mike Pennel is the school’s second legitimate pro prospect in the past 30 years.

Pennel actually was invited to and attended the NFL Combine.

Jensen wasn’t invited.

“I was a little disappointed, but in some ways, it worked out better because I got a lot of one-on-one time with teams with private workouts,” Jensen said. “The combine is a big deal and everyone watches every move you make. It’s a great chance to make an impression.”

Yeah, things worked out OK for Jensen.

Jensen offered a little advice to Pennel and the others who will work out Monday.

“Go out and have fun,” he said. “But you have to go all out. This is a great opportunity so approach it like it’s your only chance. And it could be. Be serious enough about it that you can make an impression.”

Every college football player dreams of hearing his name called in the NFL Draft. This year, the draft is May 8-10.

But for Pennel and the other prospects who will work out Monday, the clock is already ticking.